SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – A food bank in southwest Missouri is receiving a large donation of frozen chicken thanks to a poultry producer’s annual campaign.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that Ozarks Food Harvest in Springfield will utilize the 6,800 pounds (3084 kilograms) of Smart Chicken to help its member agencies provide protein-rich meals to families in need during the holidays and after the new year.

Smart Chicken’s Feed the Hungry campaign donates 1 pound of poultry for every 10 pounds of product purchased in November at southwest Missouri grocers. The promotion is in its 15th year.

Ozarks Food Harvest CEO Bart Brown says the food bank is grateful for the donation right before the holidays, which are “especially hard on our local families struggling with hunger.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is delaying the launch of a new computer system for issuing driver’s licenses.

The Department of Revenue announced Wednesday what it called a slight delay for the KanLicense system that was supposed to launch Jan. 2.

The announcement came less than two weeks after a state audit raised questions about whether the system would be ready.

The new system would replace a decades-old system and initially was to be deployed early in 2012.

The department said the latest delay will be “only a matter of days or weeks” and that driver’s licenses offices will remain open.

Revenue Secretary Sam Williams said testing showed that the system needed a little more work. He also said launching it as planned would require hundreds of employees to work on New Year’s Day.

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) – One man is in custody in connection with a fatal shooting in Joplin, and police continue searching for a second suspect.

The Joplin Globe reports that 27-year-old Moses Ramsey was arrested Tuesday. He is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in a shooting on Sunday that killed 47-year-old Sean Harris.

Harris was found shot at an apartment complex and died at a hospital.

Another man arrived at a hospital around the same time in a private vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. His injuries aren’t life-threatening.

Prosecutor Kimberly Fisher says Ramsey is accused of encouraging 47-year-old Artilius Jordan to shoot Harris because they believed Harris was having a relationship with Jordan’s girlfriend.

Jordan is at large but is charged with first-degree murder and other counts.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri’s governor and first lady want lawmakers to make it easier for teenagers in foster care to open bank accounts.

Minors now often need a co-signor to open bank accounts. First lady Sheena Greitens says that poses challenges for some teenagers in foster care who might not have an adult co-signor.

Gov. Eric Greitens says lawmakers should waive that requirement for foster care children when they return for the next legislative session in January.

Both Eric and Sheena Greitens say they also want lawmakers to pass into law a recent administrative change that waives fees for children in foster care to get copies of their birth certificates.

Sheena Greitens says her adopted sister inspired her interest in improving the state’s foster care and adoption programs.

NEWTON COUNTY — Three children died in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Tuesday in Newton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Peterbilt semi driven by Stephen J. Shaffer, 53, Sarcoxie, was eastbound on Mo. 86 two miles east of Stark City.

The semi struck a 2010 Chevy Traverse driven by Leticia Verde, 32,  Neosho.  The collision caused the driver to lose control of the Traverse. It crossed the center line. A 2001 Chevy Tahoe driven by Michael L. Stephens, 38, Fairview, struck the Traverse.

Benjamin J. Verde, 4; Eric G. Verde, 7; Issac O. Verde, 2, all of Neosho, were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Parker Mortuary in Joplin.

Leticia Verde, Michael Stephens and 2 passengers in the Tahoe Shawna Campbell, and Presley Darby both of Fairview were transported to Mercy Hospital.

Two other passengers in the Tahoe Bentley Stephens and Harley Stephens, 15, of Fairview, were transported to Freeman West Hospital

Four-year-old Benjamin Verde was not in a child car seat and the occupants of the Tahoe were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Troopers did not have all ages of those involved in the accident.

 

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a home-invasion shooting.

Just before 10p.m. Tuesday, police  responded to the 400 blk of SW Taylor in Topeka in reference to shooting that had just occurred, according to Lt. Andrew Beightel.

Upon Officers arrival they located the crime scene inside an apartment and learned the adult male victim, with a possible life threatening gunshot injury, had already been driven to the hospital by a private vehicle.

The victim advised two adult males broke into his apartment and attacked him. One of the suspects is described as an adult black male in his 40’s wearing a black and white checkered t-shirt. After the shooting the suspects fled the area in an unknown direction. It is unclear at this time if the victim and suspects were known to one another.

Patrol Officers, Detectives and Crime Scene investigators are currently on scene investigating this incident. This case is ongoing, if you have any information relating to this crime; please call the Topeka Police Department at 785-368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.

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